| What is a great or good parent? Let's look back in | | | | unemotional |
| time and see what others thought about this topic. | | | | instinctive |
| Proverbs: Train a child up in the way he should go and | | | | And "everyone is writing a book." Yes they are. Over |
| when he is old he will not depart from it. | | | | time there have been [and still are] books telling you |
| Ancient Sparta: Plutarch informed us that Spartan | | | | what a great parent is [and is not] and how you should |
| babies were "taught" to avoid being fussy about their | | | | raise your child. The message is that if you follow the |
| diet, to not fear the dark, to not cry or have tantrums. | | | | parenting advice of the author - you will be the great |
| Cicero: "Times are bad. Children no longer obey their | | | | parent. But as each author has different advice - how |
| parents, and everyone is writing a book." | | | | on earth does a parent know which author to trust |
| Calvinists: viewed child rearing as a battle of wills | | | | about what makes a great parent? |
| between a sinful infant and the parent. Physical | | | | The simplistic answer is trust none of them but to take |
| punishment was used to ensure that the parent won | | | | what feels correct from each and make your own |
| this battle. | | | | decisions. A great parent is one who loves their child, |
| John Watson: told parents to not hug or kiss their | | | | knows and accepts that they will make many |
| children and to never let them sit in your lap. "If you | | | | mistakes in their parenting and that this is ok. |
| must, kiss them once on the forehead when they say | | | | There is a quote from Les Brown: "Shoot for the |
| good night. Shake hands with them in the morning." | | | | moon. Even if you miss, you will land amongst the |
| Benjamin Spock: "The more people have studied | | | | stars." |
| different methods of bringing up children the more they | | | | So aim for being a great parent - BUT - please do not |
| have come to the conclusion that what good mothers | | | | aim to have a great or perfect child. That's your child's |
| and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is | | | | choice. Great parents are those who provide an |
| the best after all." | | | | environment in which the child can develop to its fullest |
| So a good parent is: | | | | potential and learn to make their own decisions. A |
| [take your pick] | | | | great parent knows and understands that they cannot |
| a trainer | | | | force greatness or perfection on their child. |
| a punisher | | | | |